I came across a new Dewalt drill bit set at Lowe’s, model DWAMDB14SET, and I can’t find it at any other retailer, suggest it’s exclusive to Lowe’s. I would NOT buy this set, and I’ll explain why.
This Dewalt 14pc drill bit doesn’t seem to exist anywhere beyond Lowe’s website right now. Go ahead, search for Dewalt “DWAMDB14SET” with the model number in quotes like that, and see what you can find.
So, with all signs pointing to this being a new Lowe’s-exclusive Dewalt drill bit set, let’s see what you get.
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Lowe’s Dewalt Drill Bit Deal
Dewalt gives you 14 drill bits ranging from 1/16″ to 3/8″ packaged inside a standard modular ToughCase.
Features include “cut from durable black oxide,” 3-flat shanks on the larger drill bits, and a 135° split point tip for easier and more accurate starts on hard and slippery materials.
Black oxide is a common coating that provides more corrosion and wear resistance and lubricity compared to bright or unfinished drill bits. It’s typically a surface conversion finish.
Deal Price: $9.98
“Was” $14.98 (when??)
Amazon and Home Depot Dewalt Drill Bit Deal
Amazon and Dewalt both have the Dewalt DWA1184 14pc drill bit set on sale right now, for $9.98.
These are excellent drill bits at a fantastic value. They saved the day for me just last week. If you think you might need some drill bits, this is an excellent deal that comes around a couple of times each year.
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Deal Price: $9.98
Amazon “typical price”: $12.99
Dewalt Drill Bit Deals Compared
| Sizes | DWA1184 | DWAMDB14SET |
| 1/16″ | (1) | (1) |
| 5/64″ | (1) | |
| 3/32″ | (1) | (1) |
| 7/64″ | (1) | (1) |
| 1/8″ | (2) | (2) |
| 9/64″ | (1) | (1) |
| 5/32″ | (1) | (1) |
| 3/16″ | (1) | (2) |
| 7/32″ | (1) | (1) |
| 1/4″ | (1) | (2) |
| 5/16″ | (1) | (1) |
| 3/8″ | (1) | (1) |
| 1/2″ | (1) | |
| Buy it at Amazon | Buy it at Lowe’s |
With the DWA1184 drill bit set deal at Amazon and Home Depot, you get 2 additional sizes – 5/64″, and 1/2″.
With the DWAMDB14SET drill bit set at Lowe’s, you trade the 5/64″ drill bit for a duplicate 3/16″ drill bit, and you trade the 1/2″ drill bit for a duplicate 1/4″ drill bit.
Duplicate 3/16″ and 1/4″ drill bits could be useful to have. I do use 5/64″ on occasion, and I definitely use 1/2″ drill bits regularly.
Home Depot has the Dewalt 1/2″ black and gold drill bit for $14 by itself, and Lowe’s has the same drill bit for a little more.
If you need to add that missing 1/2″ drill bit to your Lowe’s 14pc drill set deal, you’ll be out of pocket around $24. But if you buy 2x of the other Dewalt 14pc drill bit deal, you get duplicates of 3/16″ and 1/4″ drill bits, plus 1/2″ bits.
Thus, even if you use 3/16″ and 1/4″ drill bits often enough to want to buy a set with duplicates, the Lowe’s set isn’t a good deal if you might need a 1/2″ drill bit even on occasion.
The Lowe’s deal on Dewalt drill bits is a hard pass for me, even if they say it has a higher “was” value than is being advertised on Amazon and Home Depot websites.
Is it possible that Dewalt will use the new DWAMDB14SET assortment to replace their DWA1184 set? Just in case, maybe this is a good opportunity to buy a replenishment set. (I just ordered two.)
Maybe the Lowe’s deal will be a better fit for some users, but I often need that 1/2″ drill bit and really don’t want to spend $14 and change to buy the next one separately.
Jared
It seems like manipulating the drill bit sizes in specific kits is one way to hit specific promotional pricing targets.
I like to stock up when seasonal drill bit sales hit, but it seems like I’ve noticed a trend where promotional kits don’t include the larger sizes in “standard” packs and/or includes duplicates of small bits (presumably to maintain the number of pieces they can advertise). That’s not always bad – I’m way more likely to break the tiny bits anyway, so more of those can be nice – if that’s what you need.
BUT, like you pointed out, the larger bits can be very expensive individually, so if you need those sizes…
I don’t know if that’s widespread – might be something we more often see in Canada when the loonie drops in comparison to USD and they don’t want to bump our prices up.
Stuart
I still remembered being burned by Irwin promo sets that had lower quality drill bits. These look to be the same Dewalt drill bits but with a different configuration.
Removing the largest drill bit sizes could be done for different reasons – building sets to a price point as you mentioned, but it might also help drive end users to more premium sets (e.g. Dewalt PilotPoint) or sets with higher part counts.
The Lowe’s set is still a good deal, but as long as the other set is also still $10, that’s a better deal in my opinion.
Bonnie
Probably also just fewer expected users at this price point need a 1/2″ bit. Particularly in cheaper jobber sets like this which are mostly going to be supplementary.
Personally, if I’m ever using that size it’s likely some sort of rough work like electrical or deck bolts or something that I’ll grab a spade bit for, or it’s fine woodworking where I’m pulling out the brace or norseman bits.
Stuart
Dewalt’s 15pc DWA1195 set stops at 3/8″. Compared to the DWE1184 set, you lose the 1/2″ but gain 3/16″ and 1/4″ bits.
The new Lowe’s set does that and also removes the 5/64″.
The DWA1195 set is for users who might not need or want the 1/2″.
Frankly speaking, I think the set above is the product of Lowe’s telling Dewalt they went a lower cost alternative to the popular DAW1184 set. That’s not a bad thing, but this wasn’t done for users who don’t want or need the 1/2″, because such a set already existed.
Maybe the new set will be priced lower, such as $8 for Father’s Day. Regardless of context, it’s important to talk about what you’re getting or not getting with this new set that only seems to exist on Lowe’s website right now.
MKY
Stuart-
With the DWAMDB14SET drill bit set at Lowe’s, you trade the ***5/54″*** drill bit for
Stuart
Thank you! *fixed*
Jack
If DeWalt was going to include extra bits of two sizes in the DWAMDB14SET, I think that they should have included an extra 1/8” bit rather than another 3/16” bit because I go through way more 1/8” bits than I do 3/16”. Of course that will vary according to each individual user.
Stuart
All 3 (1/8″, 3/16″, 1/4″) are popular sizes that tend to wear or grow legs. In a set like this, what would you give up to get more 1/8″ duplicates? I think assortments are good but bulk packs are better for specific repetitive needs.
Plain+grainy
Interesting how manufacturers have gone impact ready on so many things. It really is great to see!
I usually only buy the impact ready for myself.
Stuart
I flip-flop between the two. I buy and use Milwaukee impact-ready drill bits for a lot of things, but can’t beat the economy of Dewalt’s if I’m mostly using a cordless drill instead of an impact anyway.
For precision drilling, I use neither – I’ve found that construction drill bits don’t have the same tolerances as industrial brands’.
PW
Honestly if Dewalt had a promo set that was just these bits, 1/16 – 1/8 in triplicate, I would buy it. I have an incredible surplus of the larger bits, lots of missing smaller bits.
I like these promo sets, but I buy them almost entirely for the smaller sizes to replace broken/lost small bits from the last time I bought a promo set. I don’t need another 1/2″.
I get the notion of buying bulk packs of specific sizes, but I tend to use up a few of the little bits and can’t always remember which ones I need in the store.
Stuart
The 10pc set that tends to be on sale for $6 for Black Friday and similar comes close to being a small size replenishment set.